Snow crystals have always fascinated both the young and old. The formations of shapes that are symmetrical and intricate at the same time have both the mathematical and artistic imagination of the greatest scientists. Great mathematician and scientist Johannes Keppler was the first to formally put out a body of work on the fascination over the phenomenon of snow crystals. His paper was published in 1611. Following, Kepplers work philosopher and mathematician Ren Descartes gave the world the first written description of the stages of crystal formation in snow. Several scientists and philosophers have continued their pursuits. They have devoted time and effort in studying and understanding the dynamics that are involved in the formation of snow crystals. Photographers go to great lengths, such as attaching microscopes to their camera lenses, to document snow crystals. To further advance the study of snow crystals and their formation, a sophisticated device was developed. It is called the X-ray crystallography. To better understand the morphology of the snow crystals, scientists grow crystals in controlled environments or laboratories. They are grown with edges of 0.1-0.3 mm. By using an X-ray machine, scientists map out the electron density of the crystal to produce its image. Naturally, snow crystals or their components are formed at various temperature ranges. At 32 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, thin hexagonal plates form. As the temperature lowers to 25 to 21 degrees Fahrenheit, needles appear. When the temperature drops to between 21 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, they resemble hollow columns. Sector plates or the shape closest to the snow crystal images we know of, form at 14 to 10 14 degrees Fahrenheit. At 10 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit, dendrites, or the long, thin and highly symmetrical arms form. These snow crystals can show intricate and beautiful patterns unique from each other. Wilson Alwyn Bentley, renowned snow crystal photomicrographer, coined the phrase, no two snowflakes are the same. |
